Cookies disabled

BubbaJr · Dec 9, 2003

I noticed on another thread someone said that their cookies were disabled and they weren't able to reply to a post. I had this problem yesterday and I had to log-in to this site and several others. Some of the sites were not affected. Has anyone else had any problems with losing your cookies (I'm not referring to flu-like symptoms)? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

rockinmywaypa · Dec 9, 2003

My wife is constantly cleaning up/out cookies on this machine. I know when because I too have to log back in after she's done it. One of those little irratations I guess you just put up with.

JASTN70D · Dec 9, 2003

Cookies should never be just "lost" they would have to be deleted by a user. If this is not the case there may be a problem that needs further attention. For example you have a setting that limits how much space cookies can use. Or the security settings are not allowing cookies from some sights. If you see a red icon on the bottom right of IE. by the internet zone this could be telling

Junkman · Dec 9, 2003

I periodically clear all cookies from my computer. Some cookies will also be cleared automatically if they are not used for a certain period of time, depending on the options you have selected on your computer. All cookies are retained on your computer, so that is where I would look first to see if it is a setting or problem with your machine..... I daily remove spy-ware and tracking cookies from my machine.

BubbaJr · Dec 9, 2003

Thanks guys, but this happened all of a sudden without any input from anyone. At the same time I noticed that after I disconnected from the internet after 5 minutes it would try to connect back up to the internet. It has never done that before either. It's been several months since I have deleted cookies from my hard drive, and the cookies for TBN were still intact. I had the same problem with 3 other sites where I had to log in all over again and re-set it to remember me. I should mention that my computer is a dinosaur at 350mhz and running Win 95. I wondered if maybe someone was aware of a new virus that may be going around that has some of these symptoms. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Junkman · Dec 9, 2003

With a machine that old, it might just be a case of terminal old age.....

MossRoad · Dec 10, 2003

Thanks guys, but this happened all of a sudden without any input from anyone. At the same time I noticed that after I disconnected from the internet after 5 minutes it would try to connect back up to the internet. 

Many people that I know get this from time to time. Someone will be just sitting there with nothing running on their PC, then all of a sudden, IE pops up and it goes to some advertising websites, etc... every few minutes it just keeps popping up ads.

Here's what we do...

Clear your cache.
Clear your cookies.
Download Spybot or AdAware. Then download any updates. Then run it. They will probably find some things. Remove those things. The problem has always gone away after doing this. Good luck. Let us know what you find.

DocHeb · Dec 10, 2003

I agree with your suggestions. I would recommend the Spybot program over AdAware. I am having good success on my computer running Norton Antivirus and Norton Internet Security behind a Linksys 4-port router. I also used AdAware in the past, but have switched to Spybot with better success in cleaning out my system.

In reply to others, not necessarily Moss Road:

Go into /Start/Settings/ControlPanel/InternetOptions/Privacy and make sure privacy setting for the Internet is at least Medium-High. Occasionally you may have problems getting all the info from a desired web site, but it is a simple matter to change this setting on-the-fly if this were to occur. I also helps to have the Internet Option for Security set at Medium.

In addition, I would recommend some proactive testing to help evaluate computer. Go to Gibson Research - Shields Up. It will be difficult reading even for the moderately geeky, but this entire web site (Gibson Research) is built around protecting your computer. The "Shields Up" pages can reveal how open your computer is for personal information, and how easy it is for somebody to take control of your computer remotely. Run the different services and "probes" he offers and follow the recommendations to make your computer invisible to intruders from the web.

BubbaJr · Dec 10, 2003

I totally agree, it's got other issues that make me want to chuck it out the window, BUT, you know how it is when you have other things that also need attention. Like my 41 Ford has been up on jackstands for about 2 months waiting on a whole new brake system. And those don't come cheap. So I'm going to have to put up with it for a while longer. I thank everyone that gave me advice. Now I better get busy and start in on them.
Thanks guys!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Junkman · Dec 10, 2003

( I agree with your suggestions. I would recommend the Spybot program over AdAware. I am having good success on my computer running Norton Antivirus and Norton Internet Security behind a Linksys 4-port router. I also used AdAware in the past, but have switched to Spybot with better success in cleaning out my system. )

I have downloaded both AdAware and Spybot after learning about them here and find that both have their strong points. One will find things that the other doesn't. After running those two, I will also run PestPatrol and that will find more. I have also used the Gibson site and checked my machine using their instructions.... you can't afford to take risks today.... Have you had your flu shot this year?????

BubbaJr · Dec 10, 2003

I downloaded Spykiller (Spybot) and let it check my hard drive and it found 19 spy or ad related items. So I went to their website to purchase the program to delete this stuff. After the purchase was concluded I started to browse their site, and a window popped up and said something to the effect "we don't want to lose you, so take another $10.00 off the 39.95 and pay only 29.95 for the program". Well that didn't sit very well with me, so I emailed them back and asked them to either honor the lower price or cancel the order. I'll let you know what happens.
I had already made most of the changes to my security settings that some of you suggested, but I went one step further and checked the warning for cookies. Guess which site tries to give you cookies each time you change pages? Would you believe this site? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Junkman · Dec 10, 2003

I commented about pop up's on this site and the administrators said that there was no such thing, but they continue to happen. All I have to do is move my mouse across certain ad's and they will pop up. I don't click the mouse, but move it past them on the way to click on something else.... must be my computer has a mind of its own... I have become accustom to it now and just back out of them... Give Pest Patrol a try also..... it is good to say the least..... Junkman

BubbaJr · Dec 10, 2003

What I was talking about is a pop up security alert asking for permission to install a cookie to my computer for ease in browsing. This was predicated by my changing my cookie status from "accept" to "ask for permission" or something like that. Every time I change pages on the TBN site I get an alert requesting permission to install a cookie. I'm sorry I didn't make myself more clear the first time. Sometimes I type faster than I think, which can be scary. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

DocHeb · Dec 10, 2003

Cookies are not necessarily evil - this site uses them to keep track of your password and signing in automatically.

You have your cookies set to "prompt" for first party cookies. That means even though you have asked your browser to go to TBN, you will be asked to allow a cookie from that site. That level of privacy control drives me crazy. I personally have set my Start/Settings/ControlPanel/Internet Options/Privacy/Advanced to "first party cookies - accept" and "third party cookies - block" and that weeds out the secondary stuff, but allows me to access the web sites I like.

BubbaJr · Dec 11, 2003

Hi Chris,
I am still running Win 95, so the only options I have in regards to cookies are to allow them , prompt, or not allow them. I know what the cookies are there for, I'm just trying to take back control of my computer, even if only for a moment or two. It seems that the more the brains at Microsoft add to the OS's, the easier it is for the bad guys to hack into your computer. That's another reason I haven't been too anxious to upgrade. I didn't want to have to add all that software and hardware to plug the security holes that are in the new OS's. Before too long I'm going to have to bite the bullet and upgrade, but it's not something I'm looking forward to at all.
Thanks for taking the time to respond. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

JASTN70D · Dec 11, 2003

Bubbajr

Even though you have windows 95 you may be able to upgrade your Internet Explorer. Although this will give you more control over cookies we have seen problems with changing the settings and them not working correctly or not changing back /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif. check Microsoft Update.

BubbaJr · Dec 11, 2003

I just went to the Microsoft site to check the latest upgrade for Win 95 and Explorer. The site was dated 2001, and the latest upgrade listed was for Explorer 5.1. I checked my version number and I am already running 5.50.4807.2300CO. LOL /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Thanks for the suggestion though.